• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Rebel Chick

Miami Lifestyle Travel and Food - Jennifer Quillen

  • Food
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Style & Beauty
  • Shopping
  • Entertainment
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Pets
  • Beauty
  • Entertainment
  • Contact Me
  • eBay Store
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Food
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Beauty
    • Entertainment
    • Contact Me
    • eBay Store
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Entertainment

    The Evolution of John Cusack's Career Leading up to The Raven

    October 8, 2012 by Jenn 11 Comments

    0 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Email
    • Reddit
    • Yummly

    John Cusack’s career is the stuff Hollywood dreams are made of. With such iconic and diverse films as Say Anything, Being John Malkovich and High Fidelity to his credit, it’s no wonder he has become well respected by his peers and beloved by fans. Here, we will take a look at these films as well as other major highlights that have helped Cusack rise to a grand level of fame.

    Baltimore, 1849. While investigating a horrific double murder, police detective Emmett Fields (Evans) makes a startling discovery: the killer's methods mirror the twisted writings of Edgar Allan Poe (Cusack). Suspecting Poe at first, Fields ultimately enlists his help to stop future attacks. But in this deadly game of cat and mouse, the stakes are raised with each gruesome slaying as the pair races to catch a madman before he brings every one of Poe's shocking stories to chilling life...and death.

    Teenage Heartthrob

    Evolution of John Cusack's Career, Sixteen candles

    John Cusack started his career as a 1980s teenage heartthrob. His roles in the films Better Off Dead, The Sure Thing, One Crazy Summer, and Sixteen Candles are light-hearted and showcase his comedic acting abilities. Girls across the nation fell for Cusack’s characters that were often the quirky, nerdy boy in search of love.

    Say Anything

    Evolution of John Cusack's Career, Say Anything

    One of Cusack’s most memorable teenage roles is in the 1989 film Say Anything… He plays Lloyd Dobler, an average student who pursues the overachiever valedictorian, Diane Court. Not only does his character win the girl, but critics also appreciate Cusack’s performance. The national publication Entertainment Weekly named the film “the greatest modern movie romance”, ranking it number 11 on its list of 50 best high-school movies.

    Blockbuster Success

    Evolution of John Cusack's Career, COn Air

    Cusack stars alongside Nicolas Cage and John Malkovich in Jerry Bruckheimer’s 1997 blockbuster Con Air. He plays US Marshal Vince Larkin who oversees the transfer of dangerous prisoners to a new Supermax prison. The prisoners hijack the aircraft they are on called the Jailbird, leaving US Marshal Larkin in a bind to convince them to land in Las Vegas where he can have them captured for good. The film went on to gross over $220 million making it Cusack’s first leading role in a box office hit.

    Being John Malkovich 

    Evolution of John Cusack's Career, being john malkovich

    The 1999 comedy-fantasy film Being John Malkovich is by far, one of Cusack’s most interesting projects. He plays an obsessive puppeteer named Craig who finds a portal into the mind of actor John Malkovich. He shares this phenomenon with his co-worker with whom he is in love with, and the two decide to offer the experience to others for a set price. This role marked a monumental moment in Cusack’s career as being part of a critically acclaimed film since it received three nominations in the 72nd Academy Awards.

    High Fidelity

    Evolution of John Cusack's Career, high fidelity

    Cusack stars as Rob Gordon, a music aficionado who fails at relationships, in the 2000 comedy-drama High Fidelity. In addition to playing the lead role, Cusack contributed to the adaption of the screenplay from the original novel written by Nick Hornby. One of the major decisions that Cusack helped make along with the other writers was to change the location of the story from taking place in London to Chicago. Chicago magazine rated the movie #1 in its Top 40 list of films ever filmed in Chicago in its June 2010 issue, marking an important time in his career as a screenwriter.

    The Raven

    Evolution of John Cusack's Career, the raven

    In one of his more recent roles, Cusack portrays a fictionalized version of the great American poet Edgar Allan Poe. His appearance closely resembles the mysterious literary figure as he investigates the disturbing trace of murders that are inspired by his works. To prepare for the role, Cusack said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine that he read a lot of Poe’s works, including his diaries and letters. This role is very different from anything he has done in the past, thus proving how Cusack continues to challenge himself despite acting for 30 years.

    In celebration of the The Raven on Blu-ray and DVD Oct. 9, which has been timed to commemorate Edgar Allan Poe's death, which was Oct. 7, 184, check out this new interactive map!

    In The Raven, the city of Baltimore acts as an integral part of the plot as Poe races through the city to solve a crime. Hover your mouse over this map for the most chilling locations to be revealed. Click the icons and watch these suspenseful scenes unfold before your eyes!

    Note the map contains mild spoilers and some graphic material keeping in nature with the film's tone

     

    Photos courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

     

    More Entertainment

    • WIN The Smurfs: Season 1, Volume 3 on DVD #Giveaway
    • Get Star Trek: Prodigy: Season 1 Volume 1 On Blu-ray DVD Jan 3
    • How to Convert Your Garden Shed into a Playroom for the Kids
    • Holiday Gift Guide for Book Lovers
    0 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Email
    • Reddit
    • Yummly

    About Jenn

    Jenn, AKA "The Rebel Chick," is a single woman who strives to help her readers live their best lives possible. Whether it be through sharing new recipes, sharing her dating stories, or encouraging people to embrace adventure and travel, she aims to inspire people to live full, happy and authentic lives.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. HilLesha

      October 08, 2012 at 11:10 am

      I love John Cusack!

      Reply
    2. Jenn

      October 08, 2012 at 12:12 pm

      Looks like he makes the perfect Poe!

      Reply
    3. Alison

      October 08, 2012 at 5:29 pm

      Love the timeline of John. And how they synced up the release to Poe's death.

      Reply
    4. Donna

      October 08, 2012 at 5:31 pm

      I love John Cusask! I missed seeing The Raven when it was at the theaters, so can't wait to watch it. Edgar Allan Poe is my favorite poet.

      Reply
    5. tamiestoo

      October 08, 2012 at 6:01 pm

      John is such an excellent actor!

      Reply
    6. Liz

      October 08, 2012 at 7:12 pm

      I think I fell in love with him while watching Say Anything. I see almost everything he is in, so I must at least rent that!

      Reply
    7. Miranda M

      October 08, 2012 at 8:33 pm

      Thanks for this post, I like John Cusack and I'm interested to see his take on Edgar Allan Poe.

      Reply
    8. Colleen

      October 08, 2012 at 10:29 pm

      He is a great actor, I think under appreciated though.

      Reply
    9. Mumseword

      October 09, 2012 at 6:17 am

      I like how you showed his life in pictures!

      Reply
    10. Billie

      October 09, 2012 at 4:13 pm

      I skipped the map, no spoilers for me! I'm a huge John Cusack fan.

      Reply
    11. Rachel

      October 11, 2012 at 3:32 pm

      I love him.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Hi, I'm Jennifer! I'm a Miami native and I love sharing easy dinner recipes, baking recipes, travel ideas and general Miami Lifestyle fun! Follow along for inspiration on how to make the most our of life!

    More about me →

    Recent Popular Recipes

    • Valentines Chocolate Bark Recipe
    • Galentines Charcuterie Board: Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board
    • Valentine Latte Ideas: A Maple Cinnamon Latte Recipe
    • Skillet Cookie Recipe Stovetop

    Archives

    Subscribe to The Rebel Chick Newsletter

    * indicates required

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for The Rebel Chick emails and updates, usually sent monthly or quarterly.

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services
    • Media Kit

    The Rebel Chick is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share-a-Sale, Commission Junction, Rakuten and LinkShare; affiliate advertising programs designed to allow me to earn advertising fees by advertising these affiliate links. 

    Copyright © 2023 · Jennifer Pridemore Quillen · All Rights Reserved TheRebelChick.com

    0 shares